Punjab Health Department finalises 100-day road map

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led Punjab government has finalised the reforms and strategy to bring betterment in the health sector across the province under its 100-day plan, Pakistan Today has learnt.

To fulfill its plan, Punjab Health Department has focused to improve the condition of emergency wards. According to the documents, the department will initially revamp the emergency wards of 13 different hospitals of Punjab.

In this regard, the vice-chancellors of all medical universities and principals of all the medical colleges have been directed to bring reforms in emergency wards by October 30 of this year.

According to a document, initially, the reforms will be undertaken by using the existing resources under which the authorities will prioritise cleanliness of emergency wards, relocation of high-end equipment, among others.

Moreover, a hefty amount of Rs2.5 billion will be spent within a year which would be used to procure new equipment. It has been learnt that most of the emergency wards have broken floors and walls, which is why it has been decided to complete the necessary repairing work within the next 100 days. Moreover, all emergency will be equipped with lifts wherever they are missing.

The department will appoint directors in emergency wards as the in-charge, as in past, who will be given the full authority.

“Department will make sure the provision of free medicines in emergency wards, installation of required equipment and presence of senior doctors 24/7,” the action plan document discloses, adding that all the staff in emergency wards will wear the uniform while performing their duties.

In the past, several incidents regarding the clashes between hospital staff and patients have been reported. To avoid such incidents in future, the health department has decided to conduct courses/training of staff to bring change in their behaviour.

According to plan, the health department will launch a health insurance scheme. At least 14.4 million people across the province will be included in this scheme while the government will be registered at least 2.36 families in the programme to provide them with health cards. For the completion of this project, the Punjab government will provide Rs10 billion while health department will start issuing health insurance cards by January 2019.

Primary and Secondary Health and Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education departments will fill the vacant posts in hospitals under the jurisdiction.

Moreover, the plan reveals that the health department will form a uniform policy regarding the user charges for the treatment of patients in public hospitals. The plan further stated that the health department will also encourage the involvement of the private sector for the revamping of emergency wards.